The storm was accompanied by very rough conditions at sea, and as the tuna were washed ashore from a farm not far from the coastline opportunistic scavengers began to eagerly cut steaks from the dead fish and take away their booty. The regional health authorities quickly warned that there was no guarantee that the tuna meat would be fit for human consumption and is likely to contain high levels of histamine and possibly other harmful substances, due to the possibility of the fish having been dead in the water for up to three days: some residents report a stench of rotting meat in areas where they appeared on the shore.

The Town Hall of San Javier quickly followed the lead of Cartagena by issuing their own warnings, and members of the public are advised to report any sightings of dead tuna on the beach rather than viewing them as an opportunity to fill their freezers!